Hinge or joint



April 1937- J., F. HINES 4 2,078,076

HINGE OR JOINT Original Filed July 10', 1954 lnnentor Patented Apr. 2Q,1937 UNITED STATES genera ATEN E'FECE HINGE OR JOINT Originalapplication .luly 10, 1934, Serial No.

734,489. Divided and this application February 25, 1935, Serial No.8,033

10 Claims.

The invention relates to hinges, and this application is a division ofmy prior application for U. S. Letters Patent, Serial No. 734,489, filedJuly 10, 1934, which matured into Patent No. 2,004,810,

5 June 11, 1935, and was reissued as. Patent No. Re-

issue 20,089 Sept. 1, 1936.

Hinges available prior to the present improvements sag in use, squeak,rust, and their joints collect moisture and/or dust, because ofimperfeet fitting and excessive clearance between the hinge leaves andpins.

The imperfect fitting and excessive clearance between the leaves andpins of usual hinges arises from the fact that the cost of and the timerequired for manufacturing usual hinges according to usual methods so asto attain precision fitting and clearance between the hinge leaves andpins would be prohibitive.

The objects of the present improvements into clude the provision of animproved hinge which is sagless, squeakless, rustless, and proof againstthe accumulation of water and/or dust in its joints, and which isadapted for economical and rapid manufacture.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the improvements,apparatus, parts, combinations, and sub-combinations, which comprise thepresent invention, and the nature of which is set forth in the followinggeneral statement, and preferred embodiments of the improvements, ap-

paratus, parts, combinations, and sub-combinations, together with theirmode of use, and a preferred method of making the same, are set forth inthe following description, and the improvemerits, apparatus, parts,combinations, and subcombinations of the invention are particularly anddistinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming parthereof.

The nature of the improved hinge of the prescut invention may bedescribed in general terms as including a hinge pin which may be made ofa length of round steel rod, preferably of a stock size, the ends of thepin being formed out of square. A shorter sleeve of preferably seamlesstubing is rotatably located on the pin and may be of brass or bronze,and pairs of brass or bronze washers are located with the pin rotatablyfitting in their central apertures, each pair being located at one endof the sleeve with one of the washers in abutment with the adjacent endthereof.

The sleeve and washers are preferably provided, as by means of aperturesformed in their walls, with engaging portions or surfaces adapted to beengaged by metal cast thereon. The hinge leaves are cast ofmetal orother suitable material about the pin, sleeve, and washers, so that oneleaf engages the sleeve and the inner washers and the other leaf engagesthe pin and the outer washers.

(Cl. l6--128) The nature of the preferred improved method for making theimproved hinge of the present invention may be described in generalterms as preassembling the pin, sleeve, and washers in their desiredpermanent locations with respect to each other, placing thepre-assembled pin, sleeve, and washers as a core unit in a mold havingleaf forming cavities, and then pouring molten material having a lowermelting point than that of the pin, sleeve, and washers into the moldcavities and about the pin, sleeve, and washers, and on cooling the castmaterial shrinks wax tight on the pin, sleeve, and washers, and formsthe improved hinge.

For many purposes the material of the several parts of the hinge may bemetallic, and the cast metal forming the hinge leaves preferably has alower melting point than that of the metal of the pin, sleeve, andwashers.

In the case of relatively large hinges, in order to attain propercooling of the leaf material about the ends of the hinge pin, it isdesirable to associate cores with the opposite ends of the hinge pin andto cast the hinge leaf engaging the outer ends of the hinge pin aboutthe cores as well as the outer ends of the hinge pin; or to providetelescoping means in the hinge pin intermediate its ends, to permit itto contract endvvise with the cast material.

Preferred embodiments of the improved hinge and of the pin, sleeve, andwasher unit thereof, are illustrated in the accompanying drawing formingpart hereof, in which Figure ll is an isometric view of one embodimentof the improved hinge with the leaves in closed position;

Fig. 2, a plan view thereof with the leaves in open position;

Fig. 3, a longitudinal sectional view thereof as on line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. l, a detached view of the pin, sleeve, and washer unit, with thesleeve and washers shown in longitudinal axial section;

Fig. 5, an end view thereof looking in the direction of the arrows 55,Fig. 4;

Fig. 6, an end view thereof looking in the direction of the arrows ii6,Fig. 4; and

Fig. '7, a view similar to Fig. l illustrating a pin, sleeve, and washerunit for a large hinge, with cores applied to the opposite ends of thehinge pin, and also telescoping means in the hinge pin, for permittingproper cooling and shrinking of the cast material forming the leafengaging the outer ends of the hinge pin.

Similar numerals refer to similar throughout the several views.

The embodiment of the improved hinge illustrated in the drawing isindicated generally by it and includes a hinge pin l l which is made ofa length of round rod, which may be a steel parts rod and is preferablyof a stock size, and the end faces l2 and E3 of the pin H are for thepurposes of the invention preferably formed out of square with thecylindric longitudinal outer surface of the pin, as by diagonallycutting the rod from which the pins H are formed.

A sleeve l4 rotatably fits on the pin H, and the sleeve I4 issubstantially shorter in length than the pin H and the end faces 15 andH3 of the sleeve 14 are square with its cylindrical inner and outerlongitudinal surfaces.

The sleeve M has a plurality of engaging apertures H formed in itstubular wall.

As a convenient mechanism for providing thrust bearing surfaces withinthe hinge joint, which surfaces will be of harder material than the castbody, sets of washers l8--l and l8-2, and I83 and l8l fit on the outerends of the pin It. The washers have the same external diameters, andall four may conveniently be exactly alike. The inner washers l8-2 andl83 must be rotatable on the pin l i. It is not material whether or notthe outer washers l8-l and l8--4 are rotatable on the pin, because thecasting of the caps 25 andZii, hereafter described, forms pin, outerwashers, and caps into a unitary structure. Opposite faces of thewashers l8l and- |8-2 thrust abut against each other and the inner faceof the washer |82 abuts against the end face I5 of the sleeve l4, andsimilarly the opposite faces of the washers l83 and l8 t thrust abutagainst each other and the inner face of the washer l83 abuts againstthe end face 16 of the sleeve l4.

Each washer has a plurality of apertures 20 formed therein to engage thecastmaterial.

The sleeve M and Washers l8-l, l8-2, i8-3, and 13-4 may be made ofbronze in the hinge ill, and the sleeve 14 is preferably a length ofseamless tubing.

The hinge I!) furthermore includes one-piece leaves 2t and 22 which maybe made of cast aluminum alloy, and the one-piece leaf 2t includes atubular portion 23 which surrounds the sleeve l4 and engages theapertures I of the sleeve l4, and the opposite ends of the tubularportion 23 abut the inner faces of the washers 3-2 and l83 and engagethe apertures Zll thereof.

The hinge leaf 2| furthermore includes a connector plate 24 whichextends from one side of the tubular portion 23.

The one-piece hinge leaf 22 includes end caps 25 and 25; and the end cap25 surrounds and engages the outer end of the hinge pin l 5 beyond thewasher Iii-i, and abuts the outer face of the washer iii-l and engagesthe apertures 23 thereof; and similarly the end cap 26 surrounds andengages the other end of the hinge pin ll beyond the washer tili, andabuts the outer face of the washer l8--4 and engages the apertures 20thereof.

The hinge leaf 22 furthermore includes a connector plate 27 extendingfrom one side of the end caps 25 and 26.

The connector plate 24 of the hinge leaf 2! and the connector plate 21of the hinge leaf 22 are provided as illustrated with apertures 28whereby the hinge leaves may be connected as by bolts or screws with themembers or parts (not shown) to be hinge connected by the hinge ID.

The improved hinge I0, (in the smaller sizes) is preferably made byforming a core unit indicated generally by 30 in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, and

which includes the pin II with the sleeve 14 and the washers [8-4 andl32, and |8-3 and i84 positioned thereon in the desire-d permanentlocations with respect to one another, each set of washers beingarranged so that the engaging apertures 20 thereof do not register withone another, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The core unit 30 is then placed as a core in mold cavities of a mold,not shown, the cavities being formed to make thehinge leaves 2! and 22.

Molten metal, as aluminum alloy in the hinge I0, is then poured into themold cavities, casting the leaves 2i and 22, and as the metal of theleaves cools, the leaves contract and wax tight engagement of thetubular portion 23 of the leaf 2! is effected with the sleeve l4 and theinner washers l8-2 and l83, and similar wax tight engagement of the endcaps Hand 26 is effected with the end portions of the hinge pin H andtheir out of square end faces and with the end washers l8-I and |84, theapertures I! and 20 providing engaging surfaces for the cast material.

In the hinge E0 the aluminum alloy forming the leaves 2i and 22 has alower melting point than the hinge pin H and the bronze sleeve M and theround washers l8l, 13-2, Iii-3, and l8-4; and in any of the improvedhinges of the present invention, the melting point of the cast materialfor forming the leaves may be lower than the melting point of the hingepin, sleeve, and washers. Accordingly, when it is desired to cast steelleaves, a pin, sleeve, and washers of nickel iron may be used; and formalleable iron leaves, the pin, sleeve, and. washers may be made ofsteel..

It will be understood, however, that the body of the metal in the hingepin and in the respective washers, is so considerable, as compared withthe amount of cast material which may contact through the apertures withthe bearing sur- J faces; that the cast material will chill and freezeso quickly that it will not adhere to the bearing surfaces, eve-n thoughthe melting point of the cast material may not be lower than the meltingpoint of the hinge pin, the sleeve, or the washers.

In making hinges having pins not exceeding six inches in length, it maynot be necessary to make any provisions for accommodating the shrinkingof the material which is cast to form the leaves;

but in hinges having pins of longer lengths, it is desirable if not.necessary to provide cores for crushing at the ends of the pin, ortelescoping means interposed between the ends of the pins to permit a.shrinking of the cast material, as illustrated in the modified pin,sleeve and washer unit 3! shown in Fig. 7.

In hinges having pins from six inches to some twelve inches in length,mushroom head-ed cores 32 may be used at the ends of the hinge pin,which will crush when the cast. material shrinks; and in hinges havingpins with a length of from twelve inches and upwards, the washers may bespaced slightly from the ends of the sleeve and the pin may be made intwo slightly spaced sections with a central telescoping pin and socketconnection 33 intermediate the ends, which will accommodate theshrinking of the cast material; as illustrated in Fig. '7.

The invention has been described more particularly with reference tohinges having all the parts made of metal, and the hinge pin willusually be made of steel. Steel tubing and steel washers of properthickness are preferably used when the leaves are cast of grey ormalleable iron or steel. Copper, brass or bronze washers, however,

are preferably used when the leaves are cast of non-ferrous materials,such as hard rubber, glass, bakelite and the like.

It is also desirable to carbonize or coat the sleeve, pin, and washerunit with shellac, soapstone, or the like, to produce a tight fit whenthe leaves are cast upon the unit.

I claim:

1. A structure for a hinge and the like, including a pin, a sleeverotatably located on the pin, the pin being longer than the sleeve and.having ends extending beyond the opposite ends of the sleeve, pairs ofabutting washers provided with central apertures rotatably fitting onthe pin, each pair being located at one end of the sleeve and one of theWashers of each pair abutting the adjacent end of the sleeve, one pieceleaves, one leaf engaging the sleeve and the washers abutting the endsthereof, and the other leaf engaging the outer ends of the pin and theother washers.

2. A structure for a hinge and the like, including a pin, a sleeverotatably located on the pin, the pin being longer than the sleeve andhaving ends extending beyond the opposite ends of the sleeve, pairs ofabutting washers provided with central apertures rotatably fitting onthe pin, each pair being located at one end of the sleeve and one of thewashers of each pair abutting the adjacent end of the sleeve, one pieceleaves, one leaf engaging the sleeve and the washers abutting the endsthereof, and the other leaf engaging the outer ends of the pin and theother washers, the pin, sleeve, and washers being of metal, and the onepiece leaves being of metal having a lower melting point than the metalof the pin, sleeve, and washers.

3. A structure for a hinge and the like, including a pin having endfaces oblique to the longitudinal axis of the pin, a sleeve rotatablylocated on the pin, the pin being longer than the sleeve and having endsextending beyond the opposite ends of the sleeve, pairs of abuttingwashers provided with central apertures rotatably fitting on the pin,each pair being located at one end of the sleeve and one of the washersof each pair abutting the adjacent end of the sleeve, one piece leaves,one leaf engaging the sleeve and the washers abutting the ends thereof,and the other leaf engaging the outer ends of the pin and the otherwashers.

4. A structure for a hinge and the like, including a pin, a sleeverotatably located on the pin, the pin being longer than the sleeve andhaving ends extending beyond the opposite ends of the sleeve, pairs ofabutting washers provided with central apertures rotatably fitting onthe pin, each pair being located at one end of the sleeve and one of thewashers of each pair abutting the adjacent end of the sleeve, the sleeveand washers having apertures formed therein, one piece leaves, one leafengaging the sleeve and the washers abutting the ends thereof, and theother leaf engaging the outer ends of the pin and the other washers.

5. A structure for a hinge and the like, including a pin having endfaces oblique to the longitudinal axis of the pin, a sleeve rotatablylocated on the pin, the pin being longer than the sleeve and having endsextending beyond the opposite ends of the sleeve, pairs of abuttingwashers provided with central aperture rotatably fitting on the pin,each pair being located at one end of the sleeve and one of the washersof each pair abutting the adjacent end of the sleeve, the

sleeve and washers having apertures formed therein, one piece leaves,one leaf engaging the sleeve and the washers abutting the ends thereof,and the other leaf engaging the outer ends of the pin'and the otherwashers.

6. A hinged structure comprising a pin, washers in contiguous pairs uponsaid pin, and slidable axially of said pin during shrinkage of castmaterial thereon, a sleeve upon said pin between the inner of saidwashers, a cast body upon said sleeve and inner washers comprising withsaid sleeve and their washers a unitary knuckle, cast end bodies uponthe respective ends of said pin and the outer of said washers comprisingwith said washers and pin a unitary structure revoluble with respect tosaid knuckle.

7. A hinged structure comprising circular bearings mounted in pairs,said pairs being axially disposed, a sleeve-and-pin whereon said pairsare mounted, said sleeve being rotatable on said pin, 1;

one bearing of each pair being secured to the sleeve, the other bearingof each pair being secured to the pin, cast material surrounding saidbearings and sleeve-and-pin, said material being separated at axialintervals into relatively- :I

rotatable bodies, said cast material uniting rigidly one bearing of eachpair to the sleeve and the other bearing of each pair to the pin.

8. A hinged structure comprising circular bearings mounted in pairs,said pairs being axially disposed, a sleeve-and-pin whereon said pairsare mounted,- said sleeve being rotatable on said pin, one bearing ofeach pair being secured to the sleeve, the other bearing of each pairbeing secured to the pin, cast material surrounding said :1

bearings and sleeve-and-pin, said material being separated at axialintervals into relatively-movable bodies, said cast material unitingrigidly one bearing of each pair to the sleeve and the other bearing ofeach pair to the pin, and means for shortening the distance between thepairs in conformity to shrinkage of the surrounding metal.

9. A hinged structure comprising a knuckle revoluble between axiallyspaced caps, said structure comprising a sleeve and a continuous body ofmetal surrounding said sleeve and bound thereto by contracting stresswithin said metal, a pin of greater length than the sleeve and extendingbeyond each end of the sleeve, said caps comprising each a continuousbody of metal bound upon the extensions by contracting stress withinsaid metal, and thrust bearing members between said knuckle and saidcaps, said thrust bearing members being opposed in pairs and one of eachpair being secured to the sleeve by the metal .3.

of the knuckle, and the other of each pair being secured to the pin bythe metal of the cap.

10. A hinged structure comprising in combina tion a pin and a sleeverevoluble upon the intermediate portion of said pin, means conjoint withsaid pin for permitting reduction in the length of said pin under axialpressure due to shrinkage of molten metal thereon, members at the endsof said sleeve disposed laterally thereto, means for permitting ashortening in the axial distance between said lateral members due toshrinking of molten metal thereon, other members disposed laterally withrespect to said pin and bearing facially upon the faces of saidfirst-named lateral members, end caps on said pin joining said pin andsecond-named lateral members into an integral construction, a body ofmaterial upon said sleeve forming said sleeve and said first-namedlateral members into an integral structure.

JAMES F. HINES.

